Bihar Assembly Tabled Its Biggest-Ever Budget; ₹3.47 Lakh Crore Proposal, ‘Viksit Bihar’ Claim via Saat Nishchay–3
Saat Nishchay–3 is the third phase of Bihar government’s flagship governance and development programme, announced by the Government of Bihar and led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. It is planned for the period 2026–2030 and is projected as the state’s roadmap to achieve “Viksit Bihar” (Developed Bihar).
Finance Minister Vijendra Prasad Yadav on February 3, 2026 presented the state budget for 2026–27 in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, proposing an outlay of ₹3.47 lakh crore—the largest in Bihar’s history. The government said the budget aims to double per capita income and create 10 million (1 crore) jobs, with a strong push to education, health, employment, women’s empowerment and road infrastructure.
Bihar Budget 2026–27: At a Glance
- Budget presented: February 3, 2026
- Total outlay: ₹3.47 lakh crore (highest ever)
- Priority sectors: Education, health, employment, women’s empowerment, roads
- Women Employment Scheme: ₹10,000 assistance to 15.6 million (1.56 crore) women
- Saat Nishchay–3 period: 2026–2030
- Key targets: 10 million new jobs; doubling of per capita income
The Bihar Budget 2026–27 is being described as historic in scale and ambition. Beyond its unprecedented size, it reflects the government’s development aspirations. The largest allocation to education and higher education signals a clear emphasis on human capital development.
However, ambitious claims around women’s employment and job creation have featured in past budgets as well. The key question remains whether these schemes will move beyond files to the ground. While assistance of ₹10,000 to 1.56 crore women is a significant figure, it is still unclear how much sustainable employment and income this will actually generate.
To promote higher education, the government has highlighted the Bihar Student Credit Card Scheme as a flagship initiative. Under the scheme, students are eligible for interest-free education loans up to ₹4 lakh. In FY 2025–26, loans worth ₹1,812.56 crore were sanctioned against 52,616 approved applications, while ₹1,002.28 crore has been disbursed.
At the same time, reports of alleged irregularities and scams linked to the scheme have surfaced in recent weeks. Allegations suggest that several private colleges are enrolling students beyond their sanctioned capacity and actively facilitating access to the scheme. If proven, this would amount to misuse of public funds and raise serious concerns about students’ futures.
Given that the state is spending thousands of crores on this programme, mere budgetary allocation is not enough. What is urgently required is strict monitoring, regular audits and robust scrutiny, to ensure that benefits reach genuinely deserving students and to prevent exploitation in the name of education.
Under Saat Nishchay–3, the goal of a ‘Viksit Bihar’ is undeniably ambitious. Yet, considering Bihar’s socio-economic challenges—unemployment and migration in particular—the target can only be achieved if budgetary commitments are matched by administrative will, transparency and a strong oversight mechanism.
On paper, the budget appears strong. But the real test for Bihar begins now. Announcements will matter only if benefits reach the last person. If the government can translate numbers into tangible outcomes on the ground, this budget could indeed lay the foundation for a truly ‘developed Bihar’.
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